Hey all - my 2005 TL has 127,000 miles on it and the clutch is nearly ready to be changed. I checked the dealership price to do it for me and they quoted me $2300 including parts (and new flywheel). I figured I can buy the parts myself for about $1000 so its about $1300 labor - NO WAY am I paying that. I've had fun driving the car with a manual but I do a lot of driving (over 30,000 a year) and it does get tiring pushing in the clutch all the time. So, i decided to look at buying a auto transmission and found a used one listed with 22,000 miles for $1370 - http://www.automotix.net/usedtransmi...04a&seq_num=25

I'm weary though buying a used transmission from Texas when I live in Michigan.

Has anyone heard of this company (Automotix) and had any experience purchasing products from them?

Is converting my car from a manual to an auto as easy as swapping a manual trans for an auto? I know I have some interior work to do with the shifter but that's minor. I mean, can I be confident everything will line up; bolts, electrical connections, etc?

I've done my fair share of auto work including changing clutches on previous cars and installing a new timing belt and water pump in my TL.

 

Done my share of conversions, but I'd replace the clutch assembly, sell the car and purchase a A/T car, unless there was a donor car sitting alongside and even then it is a lot of work. There is about $1500 worth of wiring harnesses that are different, $700 for a control unit, different axle assembly and this is just a start.

 

You might have to toy around with some ECU stuff.

But I agree with Turbonut, I'd just change the clutch and sell.

 

I hate to say it but it might be way too expensive to do the swap. Older cars were extremely easy but add in the electronics and it's a different ballgame. I assume even the ECU would need to be swapped but maybe not. The guys that have done the auto to manual swap could help.

Those prices are way too high. Most LUK OEM replacement clutch kits (clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing, and pilot bearing) are around $400. Labor shouldn't be more than $500.

Edit: Just found a few clutch kits for the TL from $280-$310 from LUK. An independent shop would probably charge $300 for labor.

 

Like others have said, this is not a good path to follow. Best to do what Turbonut suggested and just get it fixed then sell it and get whatever you want afterwards. Good chance you will find more of a market for a manual TL than an automatic, too.

 

Is that 30K miles/yr highway? If so, I'm surprised your clutch is starting to slip. Do you rest your foot on the clutch when you're driving?

 

yes, highway. However, its not slipping - i just know its near.

 

If it's not slipping, how do you know "it's near". This clutch can easily go 200K if not abused....

 

http://www.amazon.com/EXEDY-HCK1007-...8290252&sr=8-1

 

If the engagement point is getting further up in travel, doesn't that mean the clutch is starting to go?

 

Maybe you could find someone who wants to swap. I know if you were local and you would consider it, id most likely do it. People get sick of what they have. I love my car, but every once and a while I think "man, I wish it was manual"

Anyways, This is sort of a smoking deal I feel for an engine and a tranny
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/07-08...item19bfe771fd

Install wont be cheap, but it will be like a new car.

 

I'd DEF consider it... Im in indy too. Sure we could work something out but damn like everyone saying this wouldnt be an easy task. However since our cars would be side by side id say its a lot more possible than trying to piece it all together. Wonder if anyone else w experience in the TL's transmissions would be willing to help out w this project. I am not 100% but i dunno if anyone has done this swap yet. Whether it be auto to manual or vice versa. I assume ud have tools and a place where we could do the work?

 

he's got it....

 

I thought the TL's have a self adjusting clutch that keeps the engagement point about the same from new right to end of life? I don't see it as a good thing myself but I'm sure I've read multiple threads that touched on this before about clutch changing.

 

hello.. how r u doing and i wont do that to my car. buyers who want to buy your car will know you converted your transmssn from stick to auto.. the vehicle id number will tells me what year model is your car, where it is made, auto or stick, sdn or coupe, and the whole nine yards. if i buy a used car that is the first thing i look at.

 

This is true and it works for the most part but there are times when the self adjust doesn't seem to be working and the disengage/engage point is only about a 1/2 inch in pedal travel. I can't explain why and maybe it's a fault of my car but nome the less it happens. Further more, I determined, unfortunately not until a few months after I bought the car from a previous owner, the guy had driven this car very hard, practically abusive. I could only imagine the amount of hole launches he attempted and this car is not built for that kind of treatment, at least the clutch isn't. I also let a couple of people drive my car and when I got it back, I could smell the tell tale sign of clutch burn....when I confronted them, they claim they couldn't hear the engine racing when they were trying to accelerate in first gear. Although I knew better than to let my clutch slip, I also needed a couple of weeks to get used to the clutch in my car when I first got it - in fact, I've always been disappointed in the way the TL engages and disengages and would have made my own custom adjustments if I could have but the TL's dont allow it.

 

OP, im assuming you're not at all interested?